Apparatus for forming radiator cores



March 15, 1932. A: MEDVlLLE 1,849,944

APPARATUS FOR FORMING RADIATOR CORES Filed Dec. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 15, 1932. A. B. MEDVILLE APPARATUS FOR FORMING RADIATOR CORES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1929 March 15, 1932. B. MEDVILLE 1,849,944

APPARATUS FOR FORMING RADIATOR CORES Filed Dec. 16, '1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'fl M 9 9 NIIMNII March 15, 1932. MEDVILLE 1,849,944

APPARATUS FOR FORMING RADIATOR CORES Filed Dec. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Shet 4 Patented Mar. 15, 1932 ALBERT BENJAMIN- MEIDVILLE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon To AiITo nAmAron V I MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF cHIoAGo, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF'ILLINOIS APPARATUS on FORMING RADIATOR 'oonns Application filed December 16, 1929. Serial 'No. 114,322.

This invention relates generally to an ap paratus for forming and cutting a material,

and with regard to certain more specific features, to an apparatus for forming metallic strip for automotive, airplane and like radiator cores; and withregard tov certain further features, to apparatusof the class described which is fully automatic and continuous in operation.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of improved means for continuously converting an indefinite length of plain metal strip intodefinite lengths of shaped elements, said elements having their surfaces and ends accurately formed to adapt them to use preferablyin a radiatorlcoreassembly; the provision of a device of the class described in which the material operated upon is not subjected to unnecessary crinkling, bending or other distortion,

said material being ejected continuously from the machine as distinguished from intermittent ejection; the provision of im proved means for handling the product as it is ejected; andthe provision of means of the classdescribed in which there is a minimum of complication with a maximum capacity for turning out an accurate and uniform product. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts whichwill be exemplified in the structure hereinafterdescribed, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in Fig. 3.is a detail end view of a riding,

. forming and cut-off die, the view being take in the direction of arrow X in Fig. 1; j Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, takenon line44 of F 3, showing a cut-off die in open position;

. roller .dies and connected' earing, the

plan view of the upper V of a one-revolution being taken along line 88 bf Fig. 2

Fig. 9 is a detail of a rubber traction roll, taken on line 99-of Fig. 2

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section of one form of cut strip which is manufactured by means of the present invention," showing fragmentarily certain cut-off die parts in cutting and forming positions alternative to the'positions shown in Fig. 4;"

shown in Fig. 10

connection with a forming roll and Fig. 13 is a crosssection showing parts in connection with said detail of Fig. 12, being taken on line 1313 of Fig. 12. h v

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of. the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustratedat numeral 1 a frame,-supporting at its rear end a supply-roll 3 of blank strip materialb. Inythe present embodiment of the invention the blankstrip material comprisesthin gage brass having a width of} the order of several inches, this width being determined by the use to which the finally formed material 'is'to be put. In the present embodiment, this width equals the depth of the'radi'ator to be assembled from the formed pieces obtained by means of the present invention. The frame 1 supports a m'ainshaft 7 suitably driven from an external drive. The main shaft 7 carriers a pinion 9 meshing with a gear 11', the latter. driving alower shaft 13. The shaft 13 centrally carries a lower hardened forming roll 15 which operatively cooperates with a similar upper roll 17 8). The blank strip 5 is drawn'up to a Fig. 11; is a plan view offthecut strip drive the other, but there is provided a. meshed set of gears 29. between shafts 13 35' the machine. It will be seen from Fig. 8 that the channel 30 maybe composed of a builtshaped incline 19, by means tobe described, and feeds between said forming rolls 15, 17

.to be properly shaped corresponding to the use'to which it is to be subsequently put For instance, in the present embodiment the rolls 15, 17 are cut with lateral portions 21 for providing semi-hexagonal margins on the stripand a wave form-of portion 23 providing a wave form of web between said mar gins on the strip. The exact formation may correspond to forms now known or to forms 7 shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and in my patent for core, No. 1,802,263, dated April 21, 1931, and

- in my patent for radiator core, No. 1,821,562,

dated Septemberl, 1931.

' It willbe appreciated that the rolls15, 17 are provided with suitable clearance permitting proper'formation. without undue wear. This clearance is adjustable as indicated at numeral 25, which numeral 25is directed to I the adjustable means for supporting the upper shaft 27 on which the roll 17 is located. Furthermore one! roll is not ermltted to and 27, for providing the proper relative mo tion between rolls 15 and 17 (Figs. 2 and 8). From the rolls 15, 17 the strip 5 (now formed) moves" forwardly through a U- shaped guide 30 to a point beneath a rubber traction roll 31, the. shape of this traction-roll 31 correspondingito the then shape of the formed strip. Thus the roll 31 acts upon the corrugated strip in the nature of a gear on a'rack to draw and guide the strip through 7 up section. 1

T he shaft 33, upon which the roll31 is sup,- ported, is rotated by meansof a chain 35 cooperating with a sprocket 37 on said shaft 33.

The chain 35 passes over a tension adjusting idler sprocket39and to a driving sprocket 41, the latter being driven through a gear train 43 from a'pinion 45. The-pinion 45 is mounted on a shaft 47 which in turn is driven through a bevel gear train 49 from saidmain shaft 7. The value of the complete trains 43,

49 is such that the peripheral speed of the roll 31 is equal to that of the forming rolls 15, 17. The -chain 35 also engages a sprocket 51 lQCZLtBEl'OD a cross shaft 53, the latter carrying similar cams 55, one cam being located on eachv side of the machine (Fi s. 1 and 2). Each of these cams 55 engages a follower 57 suitably supported in a bearing 59 and reaching forwardly to couple with a lower sliding die block 61. This die'block 61 is dovetailed to the frame 1 as indicated at numerals 63in Figs. 3 and 4, the dovetails permitting sliding-backward and forward the amount required by the lift of said cams '55. Return springs 65 reacting from the sliding die block 61 to the supports 59 effect return. of theblock '61 after the cam lifting operation is completed.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the formed strip 5 advances forwardly from the rubber roll 31 and over said sliding block 61. 'This function is also illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The

block 61 is stationary most of the period of operation, but during periods when the closable cut-off die or cutter 67 of which the block 61"is a part, operates, said'cut-off die 67 moves forwardly as awhole at the same velocity as the strip 5, this motion being effected from said cam 55 in'the manner hereinbefore described.

I The cut-oif'die. 67 is illustrated more in detail in Figs. 3'and 4 and comprises said sliding carriage or lower die 61 having raised and depressed portions 69 properly spaced to accommodate the corresponding shape which the strip 5 has received at the forming rolls 15,17. Moving portions 71 fitting said portions 69 are resiliently carried in a vertically reciprocal die head 7 3, said head 73. sliding on four fixed posts 75 on the lower die 61, Resilience is effectedby backing the slidable members 71 with coil springs 72. The

said portions69, 71 perform no shapingfun'cQ.

of a length 87 with narrow front edgeSl of the next length (see Figs. 10 and 11):

Engagingsaid surfaces 77, 79, respectively, are surfaces 89, 91ofresi1iently mounted die members 93,195 respectively, The diejmemr bers 93, 95 are also resiliently mounted in said reciprocating head {73 being backed;- by

springs 97therein. 7 p 7 Between the members 93, 95 are. rigidly mounted in the head73 cut-off blocks 99 having sideward guide spurs 101 and cutting V faces 103, the'latter being behind the. forming surfaces 89, 91 in the retracted position of the head 73 shown in Fig. 4, but advancing forwardly of said surfaces 89, 91 in the de pressed cuttingv position illustrated in Fig. 10. This advance is relative, due to the res'ilient mounting of the edge forming members 93, 95. The guide spurs 101 and cutting sur faces103 move into a cutting slot 105' formed in the lower 'die block 61.;

Thus, the operation of the. sliding die per se, isthatfrom its Fig. 4 position, the upper head 67descendson the posts 75. The lower die 61 is starting to move to. the right atthis time. The strip 5 is positionedover.thepo-r- 75 move against the material and force it into the shapes of the holding members 69 to hold it steady. Then the holding members 71 75 bein resilientl mounted are forced up against the reactions of their-springs 72.

against the lower faces or surfaces77, 79 respectively, previously corrugated material being re-shaped during this'operation. 1

Immediately after the last-described'operation. the cut-ofi blocks 99 come into operation and cut out a short section of material,

forcing the same through the opening 105,

thus separating the. material into lengths.

The magnitude of lengths depends upon the timing of thevmachine; Fig. 4 shows how an opening 107 is formed through the frame 1,

I cooperating with the said opening 105 in the movable block 61 to permit the cut-off slug to pass from the machine. The action of the cams 55 are sotimed that after the operation of the die 67 is completed and the die reopened, the die will return under reaction of the return springs65, to be positioned ready for another cycle of operations. However,

the strip continues to feed'through themachine without interruption, bending, crinkling or the like.

In Figs. 3, 4 and is illustrated a springsupported knock-out pin 109 supported in the lower die block 61 for pushing up the strip 5 from the rear half of the block 61 after operations of the die 67 thereon have ceased. As illustrated in 4 the pin supportsuncut strip 5 in spaced relationship with respect to p I 1y tlmed it is driven throughaone-revoluthe block 61, but it will be appreciatedthat as thetop 73 ofthedie 67 descends the pin will assume the post-ion shown in Fig. 10, and when the die-67 reopens, the pin will force up the advancing edge 81 so that it will rideforwardly clear of thedie'corrugations. The strip in passing through the die 67 passes be tween the posts 75 and spurs 101.

The actuating mechanism forthe top 73. of the die 67 will now be described. Fastened to the die top 73 is atranslationcam 111 which is held up against a roller'113 by springs 115,this affording a lost-motion conets 123 which also support the roll shaft 33.

The other sideward arm 1240f the bell-crank 121 reaches forwardly and tendsto be drawn down .by a tension spring 125, the lower end Figs. 1, 6 and 7.

of said-spring 125 bang held to the mm.- 1.

. The downward pulling tendency of the spring 125 is normally overcome by an up-,

holding linlr 127 fastened to theend ofthe arm 124 and guided for reciprocation at its lower end by a stud 129 and slot 131. The link127 bears a rollfellower 133 which rides on a cut-0E cam 135, being held against said cam 135 by the action 'ofsaid spring 125. Normally, the follower 133 is located on the highportion 137 of. said cam 135, thereby holdingthe-die 67 open for passage therethrough of the uncut strip 5. The die 67 at this time has notranslatory movement, because the came do not operate their f0llowers 57. r

When the cam 135 moves to where the. follower 133 drops into a recessed portion139 thereof, the spring 125 pulls 'down-the-bellcrank 121 to force'down the top 7 3.. of the die 67 into engagement with the 10wer p0rtion 61- thereof to perform the functions hereinbefore set out. By the time that said closure .of the die 67 is effected, thecams' 55 operate on their; followers 57 to effect translatory movement of the die. Thus the cut-off operation is effected by a die whiclrtravels with the traveling material and crowding of the strip with attendant evils'is avoided.

' It will be seen that the purpose" of the springs .115 is not only to'hold the upper part73 of the die 57 in connection with the v wheel 113Lbut to permit relative tra-nslatory movement forwardly of the die, without breal-nng the mechanical connection with the 1 wheel 113. 'The' translatorycam 11 1: a

suitably-shaped face 141 against-which the roller or wheel 113 contacts, this shape being such asto eflect a smooth cut-oil action as ti'on' clutch, illustrated more particularly in The driving mechanism for cam comprises a lay shaft 143 held in a suitable bearing 145 of the frame 1. The front end'of this shaftcarries and drives ries a gear 147 which in turn is driven from a gear 149, the latter being affixed to the shaft 50 forming a part of said bevel gear train- 49. Thus the gear 147 moves continuously.. v p i As is apparent from Fig. 6, the constantly running gear 147 hasa driving flan e 151 which is internallynotched at 153 to e en gaged by a clutch dog 155, the latter being oscillably held to a driven disc 15 7 keyed to the lay shaft 143. It will be seen thatthe dog 155can be swung, either to an engaging position or disengaging position with' respect to the notch 153 andv that it .is normally pressed toward an engaging position by a spring 159. When in engagemenflthe velocity, of translation is controlled.

dog 155 providesapositive drive fromrthe a constantly rotating gear 147 to the lay shaft 143; otherwise not;

In order to delay movement oft-he lay shaft 143' and cam 135 over suitable timed intervals, despite continuous action of the gear 147, there is provided .a trip plunger 161 normally pressed by a spring 163 to intersect the path of movementof an extended portion 165 of the dog155g Hence when 'in rotating, the extension 165 of the dog 155 strikes the trip 161, the clutch is opened and the lay shaft 143' .has further movement blocked, its position at that time being as shown in F ig. 3, that is, holding open the then stationary die 67. I r

In order to permit one revolution of the :cam 135 at "suitable intervals, the trip 161 is causedto be actuated by a bell-crank'167 and this in turn is intermittently actuated by a lever 169 rotatable with a pinion 171, the pinion 171 being driven from an idler I gear 173 which isin connection with the said pinion 45. Thus for every revolution of the lever 169 the 'be1lcrank167 causes the trip 161 to free the dog 155 to close the clutch. Hence the lay shaft is driven to drive the cam 135 so that the die operations above described are effected. The die is thus closed and opened once as itmakes one reciproca- .tion.- As the dog 155'passes from behind the trip 161, said trip'springs back into obstructing position to disengage-the clutch an d' hold the lay shaft 143 in position," this action taking place after: one revolution of the. cam 135. The trip161 may spring back asfthe lever 169-passes from the end of'the bell-crank167. I I r From; the above it will be seen that by means of one mechanical train (gears 45, 173,

171, leversv 169, 167 andjone-revolution clutch) thetiming of operation of the die 67 is controlled and'by means of another train (gears 45,:43, chain 35 ands'procket51) its with the given travel of the strip 5 and die 67 variations may be made in 'the'time at which cut-off will hehad by simply chan ing the angular position of the lever 169. The

one-revolution' clutchand cam 135 operate riala.,ainst thefrictional retarding effect of the guide 30.

1 Next, the formed strip 5 passes through the 7 die 67 ,which die is normally open and stationary, but which at predetermined intervals moves along with the material and simultaneously closes down on said mater al toform through the chute.

and fianges 22 are do weled so as to be rotat- Hence 7 67 opens and returns, the uncut strip proceeding through the die as before. The cut length is ejected. 9 w

Another novel feature resides in the meth-. 0d of handling the cut and formed (corrugated) lengths as they are ejected from the die. They pass down an inclined chute 175 to an enclosedelbow 177 therein; Here the chute flexes back in direction by wayof the elbow 177 and delivers the lengths down an incline 179 to'a lozengesl1ap'ed container 181 of width slightly wider than the product. In order to assist the product lengths around the curve at the elbow'177, ablast 183 of air is tangentially ejected intothe elbow from a nozzle 185. The blast in impinging tangentially on the corrugated and then. curved material materially assists delivery thereof It also accelerates a piece away from the die and prevents interference with subsequent portionsl'fed out. p

In Figs. 12 and 13 are shown details of a preferred means for adjusting the rolls 15, 17, should it be desired to havethem adjustable. Each roll 15, '17 comprises aplurality of forming pieces or peripheral portions18 and 20. These portions are made separate in order to facilitate milling or otherwise forming the surfaces; r 7 u r The outer peripheral portions 18 are car ried in rotatable flanges 22 mounted onthe respective shafts 13,27. The portions. 18, 20

able as a unitaround' the shaft13 in F ig. 13. ;Inside of'the flanges22there is located an indexing member or hub 24 which is keyed to the shaft 13 and provided with a section. of teeth 26 at the edge for meshing with a pinion 28, the latter pinion 28 being rotat- V ably mounted between the sideward flanges 22. The pinion 28. in turn meshes with internal teeth 42 on the central peripheral por tion 20. f v

The shaft 32 on which the pinion28 is. located extends sidewardly through one of the flanges 22 as'indicated in Fig. 13 where it is provided with an adjusting head 34. The

adjusting-head 34 is adapted to. receive a tool for adjusting purposes. I

Passing, through circularly arranged slots in the member 22 are clamping bolts-36 which also'pass through holes 38in the central 'hub From the above it will be seen that if the bolts 36 are loosened,,thatthe members 18 and 20' are loosened and that this afi'ords means whereby the pinion 28 may be turned by means of a tool applied to the head .34. This turning action causes the pinion to move around on the peripheryof the hub'24 and drivesthe die portions 18 and 20 angularly. The hub 24 is relatively stationary. i

The advantage ofthis arrangement is that whenever a new length of strip is desired,

' an accurate adjustment may beefi'ected be tween the shaft' li'l, arena their respective rolls whereby it is possible to have the cutofi die 67 become eliectiveat a predetermined point, relatively to the corrugations shown in Fig. 10. Thus there is obtained a fine adjutment for effecting a Correct relationship between the point of cut-oil by the die head 67 and the 'convolutions in theproduct.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved-and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim: 1

1. In metal forming apparatus, meshed rotary forming rolls, means for continuously moving a strip of material therebetween, said material being adapted to be formed thereby, and means intermittently movable with the formed strip adapted to cut the same to predetermined lengths as it moves, said ast-named means comprising a reciprocabl-e closable cutter adapted to move with the strip and simultaneously close to cut and move against the direction of movement of the strip when open.

2. In metal forming apparatus, meshed rotary forming rolls, means for continuously moving a strip of material therebetween, said material being adapted to be formed thereby, a reciprocable closable die, means for guiding said strip therethrough, means for periodically driving the die with and at the speed of the strip, and means for simultaneously closing the die to cut the strip to lengths.

3. In metal forming a-ppparatus, meshed rotary forming rolls, means for continuously moving a strip of material therebetween, said material being adapted to be formed thereby, a reciprocable closable die, means for guid-V ing said strip therethrough, means for periodically driving the die with and at the speed of the strip, and means for simultaneously closing the die to cut the strip to lengths and predeterminately form front and rear edges on said lengths.

4. In metal forming apparatus, meshed ro tary forming rolls, means for continuously moving a strip of material therebetween, said material being adapted to be formed thereby,

a 'reciproc'able olosable die, means for guiding said strip .therethrough, means for periodically driving the die with and at the speed of the strip and means for simultaneously closing the die to cut the strip to lengths, a' train of mechanism adapted to perform said reciprocation, another train for performing and timing said closure operation at pre determined intervals, and'means in said lastnamed train adapted to permit varying ofthe timing of closure without destroying said in termittentidenticaI speed relationship between die and strip. 7

5. In metal forming apparatus, meshed rotary forming rolls, means'for continuously moving a strip or material therebetween, said material'being adapted to be formed thereby, a reciprocable closable die, means, for guiding said striptherethrough, means for periodically driving the die with and at thespeed of the strip and means for simultaneously closing the die to cut the strip to lengths, a train of mechanism adapted to perform said reciprocation, another train for performing and timing said :closure operation at predetermined intervals, and means in said last-named train'adapted to permit varying of the timing of closure without destroy ing said intermittent identical speed relationship -between "die and strip, said' lastnamed meanscomp'rising'an angularly adjustable lever and a! one-revolution clutch operable thereby. w

"'6. In apparatus of the class described,

means for'moving a material, reciprocable cut-off means through-which said material is moved, means for periodically moving said cut off means with and at thespeed of the material, automatic means for operating the cut-off means to out while it moves with thematerial, and means for varyingthe period of operation of the cut-oil means 1nde-- pendently of said materialimoving means.

, 7. Apparatus for conveying corrugated and similarly shaped material, "comprising a chute, means for directing said material into said chute, and arrair blast directed along the line of motion of material, said u a 9; Apparatus [for conveying corrugated and similarly shaped material, comprising a curved chute, means for directing said material' into said chute, {an air blast directed along the line; of motion of material and tangent to the curve of the'chute, said blast impinging upon said corrugations or the hirer 10. Apparatus for conveying corrugated and similarly shaped material, comprising a curved chute, means for directing said material into said chute, an air blast'directed along the line of motion of material and tangent to the'curve of the chute, said blast impinging upon said corrugations or the like, andv an enclosed portion-surrounding said chute at the curve for receivingand constraining said blast. V V

11. In means of the class described, a reciprocable die adapted to operate periodicallyon material moving therethrough, said die having two blocks, oneof which is guided with respect to the other, means for periodically moving the vdie at a rate substantially the same as that of said material, means for space dly supporting the guided block in elevated position, said last-named means being also adapted to depress said guided block.

.12. In means of theclass described, a reciprocable die adapted to operate periodically on material moving therethrough, said die having two blocks, one of whlch 1s guided With respect/to the other, means for .PQIlOCL ically moving the die at a rate substantially V the same as that of said material, means for V with respect to the other, means for periodicallymoving the die at a rate substantially the same as that of said material, means for spacedly supporting the guided block in elevated position, said last-named means being also adapted to depress said guided block, a spring connection between the block and its supporting means serving both as a support and lost-motion, connection, and a cam surface located between the block and its depressing means. 7 V

14 In apparatus of the class described, means 'for'moving a material, reciprocable cut-01f means through which saidmaterial is 'moved, means for periodically moving said cut-off meanswith and at the speed of the,

material, automaticcmeans for operating the I Vcut'ofi' means to out while it moves with the material, said last-named means including a one-revolution clutch. r

operating against the action of said springoperated means, said last-named means being adapted to releasethe spring-operated means 7 at predetermined intervals, V 16. In apparatus of the class described, means for moving a material, reciprocable cut-off means through which said material 7 is moved, means for periodically moving. said cut-off means with and at the speed of the, I

material, spring-operated means normally tending to throw the cutofi means to cut,

means timed to prevent the cutting action operating against the action of said springoperated means, said last-named means being adapted to release the spring-operated means at predetermined intervals andico'mprising a one-revolution clutch, acammechanism, said clutch and cam mechanism operating serially.

I In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this'specification this third "dayof December, 1929.

ALBERT BENJAMIN MEDVILLE. ,r

15. In apparatus of the class described,

means for moving a material,--reciprocable cut-oil means through which said material ism-oved, means for perlodically movingr said cut-off means with and atthe speed of the material, spring-operated means normal- T 1y tending to. throw the cut-oil means to cut,

meanstimed to prevent the cutting action I 

